Previews: Stage

STAGE
Over The Rainbow, Greenwich Theatre

Faye Tozer, formerly of Steps, moves further away from throw-away pop with a compelling portrayal of Eva Cassidy, the soft-voiced singer who came to fame after her early death.

This award-winning show captures the life story of the inspirational singer, with dramatic scenes linked together with moving live renditions of Cassidy’s canon of songs, including the moving interpretation of Over The Rainbow, which brought her to fame in the first place.

Before she died at 33, she was unknown outside Washington, USA but within two years, she was discovered by Terry Wogan who promoted her music to the top of the album charts across the world.

The show pays tribute to the singer and finally shows the world that Faye Tozer has the vocal capabilities to capture the magic of the original.

Oct 30-Nov 1, 7.30pm (Sat mat 2.30pm), £15-£17.50, (concs), 020 8858 7755, www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk,
DLR: Greenwich

STAGE
The Master And Margarita, The Space

Playwright Edward Kemp adapted Mikhail Bulgakov’s classic novel about a visit by the Devil to the atheist Soviet Union for the Chichester Festival in 2004.

Now Space Productions, the in-house company of the Docklands arts venue, tackles this social satire.
A stranger arrives in Moscow to hold a seance of black magic. When he predicts the death of a literary figure and his cat walks on its hind legs, the citizens start losing their heads. In the ensuing mayhem, Margarita’s lover, writer of a controversial religious play, goes missing.

The 20-strong cast, pictured in rehearsal, includes a number of local professionals as well as up-and-coming performers.

Giles Roberts, who plays the Master, appears in Richard Curtis’ film The Boat That Rocked, and Margarita (Kate Sullington) was last seen in Harold Pinter’s Betrayal.

Oct 29-Nov 9, 8pm (Sun 6pm), £6-£12, 020 7515 7799, www.space.org.uk, DLR: Mudchute

STAGE
Cyrano, Greenwich Theatre

Ever fallen in love with the most wonderful, beautiful person in the world and been unable to act upon it?
Cyrano is the ultimate tale of unrequited love. Our hero has everything, the courage of a lion, the heart of a poet and the nose of, well, an anteater.

Smitten with Parisian beauty Roxane, the charismatic but nasally challenged Cyrano is desperate to declare his love for her, but then he sees his shadow.

In his insecurity, Cyrano is forced to live out his hopes of love through another, the handsome yet inarticulate Christian. With Christian as his mouth-piece, only his words can capture her soul. This role has tempted actors such as Gerard Depardieu and comic actor Steve Martin to attempt to capture the love-lorn spirit.

Now Theatr Na N’og’s Cyrano embraces the original tale while adding its own take on this classic play.

Oct 27-29, 7.30pm, £12.50-£17.50, (concs), 020 8858 7755, www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk, DLR: Greenwich

Full previews and listings each week in The Wharf